this is the guide I wish I could just text someone when they ask where to take a date; just a long list of my favorite spots. everywhere I love in the city, sorted by neighborhood: dinner, drinks, and the off-menu stuff - the walks, the views, the slice in the park. pick a neighborhood, grab one from each section, and the night is planned for you. let’s get into it!
north beach
dinner
original joe’s - grab a seat at the bar!
★ tosca cafe
trattoria contadina
drinks
★ waystone - jazz night + one of the coziest room in the neighborhood (wine bar!)
★ bodega - another great wine bar, great for when the weather’s warm and you can sit outside (those were the days)
★ savoy tivoli - I know that this one is kind of rogue but I love savoy <3, check what nights they have live music!
off-menu
grab a slice at golden boy and picnic in washington square
browse city lights, then walk through the alley for a drink at vesuvio (I say this over and over again, but grab a table upstairs)
espresso and people-watching at caffe trieste on a slow afternoon
jackson square
dinner
★ kokkari - amazing greek food, great atmosphere, and strong drinks. one of my favorite dinner spots for sure
cotogna - this one is hard for the gluten free girls (</3) but a great spot and you can personalize the menus :)
★ verjus - romantic and great food! also helps that it’s a gorgeous space (make a reservation 7 days in advance, waiting for a table can be awful)
drinks
★ bix - I think we all know by now that I love bix, would be a good spot for little apps + drinks
comstock saloon - vintage cocktails, live music some nights
off-menu
catch golden hour along the embarcadero
wander the antique and design galleries in the neighborhood
mission
dinner
lazy bear - haven’t been myself but am dying to go
★ foreign cinema - after dinner you can always pop over next door to their bar (laszlo!)
angie’s pizza
san ho won - ofc
★ rintaro
drinks
true laurel
★ dalva - go to the back for their “back bar” called “the hideout” (one of my favorite bars in the city)
★ trick dog - fun, great music, cool drinks
off-menu
dolores park picnic
watch a movie at alamo drafthouse
hayes valley
dinner
robin
dingles public house
★ RT bistro
happy crane
drinks
hotel biron - mentioned in my fog guide because it is just that cozy!
★ the linden room - another one of my favorite bars in the city, super intimate (only seats 8-10 people at a time)
off-menu
a show at sfjazz
the symphony, opera, or ballet are all a short walk at civic center
richmond
dinner
★ pearl 6101 - one of my favs in the city, love the ambiance there
★ clementina - for the gluten free girls! their gf focaccia was insane
★ kitchen istanbul - of course. great food and an amazing wine selection
rose pizzeria - new(ish)! really pretty space + famous pizza
drinks
★ rampant - wine bar!
violet’s tavern
off-menu
lands end trail to sutro baths at sunset
legion of honor! (they have special events at night, check their calendar)
sunset
dinner
★ fiorella - their sunset location is gorgeous. when the weather warms back up again, their back patio is perfect
★ damnfine - known for their pizza!
ebisu
toyose
drinks
palm city - wine bar!
★ white cap - great cocktails
the riptide
off-menu
ocean beach bonfire at sunset - bring wine, blanket, and some food from ruby’s or hook fish
andytown for a snowy plover, then a walk along the great highway
castro
dinner
l'ardoise - cutie french bistro
frances
★ anchor oyster bar - some of my favorite seafood in sf <3
drinks
★ blackbird
blush!
off-menu
drive to twin peaks for sunset
browse dog eared books and cliff's variety, then a glass of wine
russian hill
dinner
★ bar bibi - technically a wine bar, but I love their food
★ saru handroll bar - duh, go say hi to my best friend drew if you go
okoze
drinks
union larder - super cozy & romantic
amelie - good date night spot NOT on a weekend (turns more into a going out vibe)
off-menu
a swensen's cone at the corner of hyde and union
the hidden stairways and ina coolbrith park
nob hill
dinner
★ back to back - great pizza, but I also love their steak. cute spot for sunset
★ the big 4 - recently reopened in the huntington hotel, very old-school sf
drinks
★ persona - well, of course. another one of my favorites in the city - their drinks are so good
★ arabella’s - new gorgeous cocktail lounge in the huntington hotel
key klub - wine bar! I usually like this spot for a girls’ night but I think it could be fun to sit in the back with a date
★ PCH - ugh I love their pornstar martini 10/10 my favorite drink in the city
off-menu
huntington park at golden hour
marina + cow hollow
dinner
mamanoko - sushi
roaming goat
★ brazen head - great for date night, everything is very red (lol)
drinks
little original joe’s - I love sitting at their bar!
bar crenn
left door - speakeasy above bus stop
celeste - another favorite wine bar, and another bar that turns into a going out spot on the weekends
off-menu
marina green and grab a coffee from the philz truck on a sunday morning
sunset over the bridge from the fort mason lawn
nopa
dinner
che fico - great spot on a rainy night
bar crudo
drinks
★ bar 821 - intimate bar with GREAT drinks
fool’s errand
horsefeather - I love their seasonal drinks
off-menu
catch a show at the independent
alamo square and the painted ladies, picnic up on the hill
I know that there are still so many neighborhoods / spots missing from this list so a part two will be coming soon!
Let me know what I missed and what your favorite spots are, happy sunday. xoxo
Love Always,
Su
Sending this to my husband
Love Verjus! 🍷